A Moment in Time (27 page)

The thought of Robert getting hurt still troubled her, but Alice knew that as a rancher’s wife she would have to be strong. Maybe stronger than she’d ever had to be before.

Inside the house, Mother was finishing up the final sweeping. The vision brought back memories of days long past when the older woman had done things in a similar fashion in their own home. For a moment, Alice could only watch. She thought of how hard it had been to accept her mother’s still being alive and the deceit of her father. Now, however, Alice felt only joy at having her family back.

Mother spied her watching and halted her work. “Is something wrong?”

Alice smiled. “No, I was just remembering when I was a little girl and you would sweep our house. It seems like a thousand years ago instead of just a few.”

“I remember teaching you to make strawberry jam,” her mother said, leaning on the broom. “It is one of my favorite memories. You were only nine. Do you remember?”

She did. It had been such a wonderful experience. It was really the first time Alice had done much of anything in the kitchen. “I loved sampling the jam.” She laughed. “I remember you worried that none of it would make it to the jars.”

Mother chuckled. “I think you ate as much as you canned.”

Alice sobered. “I’m sorry you were so unhappy, Mother. Those days seemed fairly pleasant to me. I knew you and Father argued from time to time, but I figured that was what married folks did. I’m sorry that I couldn’t have somehow made it better for you and Simon.”

Putting the broom aside, Mother came to take hold of Alice’s arms. “That was never your job. Besides, it’s in the past. We must let go of the awfulness of those ways in which we were wronged and look to a better future. If not, we are destined to bring even more sorrow upon ourselves.”

“I’m glad you came here. I’m glad you’re back in my life,” Alice said and hugged her mother close.

The sound of an approaching wagon caused both women to end their reminiscing and instead head to the front door. Alice could see that it was Hannah and the others. She smiled at the sight of Wyatt, Samuel, and Benjamin hanging half out of the wagon in order to take in all the sights.

“Whoa.” Jake stopped the team and set the brake.

“Is this going to be our new house?” Wyatt asked, standing in the back of the wagon.

“No,” Hannah replied from the front seat. “This is my house, and you’re going to rest up here a bit before heading to your home.”

Alice came to the wagon as Jake helped Marty from the well-cushioned place he’d made for her in the back. Marty looked rather tired, and Alice hoped she would lie down before endeavoring anything else.

“Alice, would you help Jake put Marty to bed?” Hannah asked, as if reading her mind.

“I will. I was just about to suggest the same.”

“I’m really all right. I just got a little warm. I’ll be fine,” Marty protested.

Jake would hear none of it. “You’re gonna take a nap, or I’m gonna tie you to the bed until you do.”

Alice put her hand over her mouth to suppress a giggle. Marty started to say something, but Jake held up his hand.

“Save it, Marty. You aren’t gonna win this fight.” Then without warning he lifted her in his arms and headed for the house.

Alice hurried on ahead to pull down the bedcovers. She barely managed the task before Jake placed Marty gently atop the clean sheets.

“Now, stay there while I go fetch you somethin’ cold to drink. Your sister said there was sweet tea in the cellar.” He looked to Alice. “Make sure she stays put.”

Already Alice was removing Marty’s shoes. “Don’t worry. She’s not going anywhere.”

Marty gave an exasperated sigh and crossed her arms like a defiant child. “Now you have everyone against me.”

Jake rolled his eyes and Alice couldn’t help but smile. It
wasn’t going to be easy to keep Marty from overdoing it, and both of them knew it full well. Once Jake had gone, however, Marty surprised Alice by asking for help.

“Can you unbutton this blouse? I can’t bear the heat of it anymore.”

Alice quickly complied and soon had Marty undressed down to her lightweight shift. With Marty resting, Alice took up a cloth and dipped it into the water bowl atop the dresser. She came to the bed and began to wipe Marty’s face and arms. The older woman offered no resistance and instead thanked Alice for her care.

“Jake worries too much. Hannah, too,” Marty said and then closed her eyes. “But I think I will take just a little nap.”

Alice smiled and finished her ministering. “I think that’s a good idea.”

Later that evening Marty climbed back into the wagon with Jake’s help. The pains had stopped once she’d rested, and for that Marty was grateful. It worried her to think that her stubbornness might have brought the baby too early.

“When are you going to have the baby, Mama?” Wyatt asked.

“Oh, in another few weeks,” Marty replied and reached out to ruffle his hair.

Benjamin curled up next to her as Jake moved the team out and headed for home. “Mama, will we have a big bed?”

“No,” Marty told them. “Your papa made you each your very own bed.”

“We don’t have to share?” Samuel asked in amazement.

“Nope. You’ll have a bed all your own. But you three will
share a room. At least until we can afford to add on to the house.”

“We can share,” Wyatt declared. “We can share real good.”

Samuel nodded in agreement. “We have to share. We’re brothers now.”

Marty chuckled and touched the boy’s face. “That’s right. You are brothers, and together we are a family.”

Friday June 23, 1894

“You may now kiss your bride,” the preacher announced.

Alice trembled as Robert took hold of her and pulled her close. She closed her eyes in anticipation and then felt his warm lips on hers. A spark of passion grew into a flame. She wanted the kiss to go on forever. She wanted always to remember this moment in time.

But as quickly as it started, it stopped and Robert pulled away. Alice could barely hear the crowd of onlookers cheering them. Her heart beat so loudly in her ears that it drowned out nearly everything else.

People soon began to surround them, offering congratulations and well-wishes. Alice found herself separated from Robert as the ladies moved in around her, commenting on her pale blue gown and her carefully styled hair.

“I think the lace trim on your bodice is perfect,” Laura Reid said, reaching out to touch the modest neckline. “So fine and delicate.”

“She looks like an angel,” Hannah declared. “When she said she didn’t need a fancy wedding dress, I wasn’t sure I could approve. After all, it is the rage.”

The ladies around her laughed. “Since when have we Texans worried about what the rest of the world thinks?” Carissa Atherton questioned.

“I like the pleating in the bodice,” Hannah pointed out. “It took hours of tedious work, but it came out beautifully.”

The others agreed while Alice craned her neck to find where Robert had gotten off to.

Since the wedding had taken place midmorning, everyone was now prepared to celebrate with a spread of food that Hannah and some of the other women had been busy making all week.

Alice wasn’t a bit hungry, however. She wanted only to be left alone with Robert. She wanted to again feel his lips upon hers. She felt her cheeks grow hot and looked around, almost worried she’d spoken her desires aloud.

Little by little the crowd thinned, and Robert came to reclaim her. Alice allowed him to lead her to the head table. He helped her to take a seat before offering to get her food.

“You sit tight. I’ll fetch a plate for both of us.”

She nodded her approval and couldn’t help but watch him as he walked away. He was her husband. They were really and truly married. Alice marveled at the thought and reached up to touch the scar along her jaw. It might have been her imagination, but the scar felt less prominent. Maybe it really was fading, as Marty had suggested.

The thought of Marty caused Alice to search for her dear friend. She finally spotted Marty standing away from the others near one of the cottonwood trees. The grimace on her face suggested she was in pain. For a moment it didn’t register, and then all at once Alice feared the reason.

Leaving her place of honor, Alice hurried across the yard to where Marty stood. “Is it the baby?”

Marty looked up, her face pale and her mouth tightly clenched. She nodded, drew a deep breath, and then straightened. “It started just before the wedding. I didn’t want to say anything. It’s your day, after all.” Her features relaxed. The pain had apparently passed.

“Is it too early?”

“I don’t know. Hannah has insisted that I was further along than I originally thought.” Marty gave her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry to spoil things.”

“You aren’t spoiling anything. But you need to get to bed. Come, and I’ll help you.” Alice looked around for Hannah.

“Oh, don’t make a fuss. I don’t want everyone knowing. Jake will—” Marty gasped and bent over, clutching her stomach.

Alice couldn’t take any more. “Someone, please come help me. Marty is going to have the baby!”

Jake was first to reach them, with Hannah close behind. Several other people followed until nearly everyone had gathered to see what assistance they might offer. Hannah ordered people around like a well-trained general.

“Jake, get her into the house and help her out of her gown. Ravinia, put more water on the stove and then get that stack of towels I set aside.”

They quickly obeyed, and Alice could only stand helplessly watching as Jake carried Marty away. Robert seemed to understand and put his arm around her waist.

“Alice, she’s in good hands. My ma is the best midwife around these parts.”

“I believe you. I just wish there were something I could do to help.”

“There is,” Carissa Atherton announced. “You can go on
with your wedding celebration. Marty would want you to do so. Now come. The birthing will probably take some time.”

Reluctantly Alice allowed Robert to lead her back to the table. Carissa took over as hostess, and soon had everyone’s focus back on the festivities. Alice found it almost impossible to eat despite the wonderful array of foods set before her. Robert didn’t seem to have any problem at all, and after he’d cleared his plate, he started in on hers. He spoke casually with those who came to speak to them, while Alice’s mind was on the delivery of Marty’s baby.

“I can’t stand not knowing what’s happening,” she whispered to Robert when they were finally alone.

“I understand, but this is our wedding day, and I’d really like for you to share it with me.” He smiled and patted her hand. “You know Aunt Marty wouldn’t like it if she knew you were neglecting me.”

This made Alice smile. She could imagine Marty chiding her quite severely. Just then Simon came up to the table with Wyatt, Samuel, and Benjamin in tow.

“They’re worried about their mama,” Simon declared. “I told them she’d be done having the baby pretty soon. That’s right, isn’t it?”

Alice could see the hopefulness in the boys’ eyes. She nodded. “That’s right. Sometimes babies seem to take forever, but other times they come real quick. You boys just need to pray and ask God to watch over your mama.” She gave them a smile. “Everything will be all right.”

Two hours later, Alice’s mother appeared at the door. It seemed that everyone noticed her at once, and silence blanketed the yard. She smiled and made her announcement.

“It’s a girl.”

Cheers erupted from the crowd, and several of the attendees
rushed toward Ravinia Chesterfield to learn more. Robert, however, took the opportunity to slip away with Alice.

“Where are we going?” she asked as he led her away from the party.

“Anyplace where we can be alone,” he said.

He pulled her behind the smokehouse and drew her into his arms. Without giving her a chance to protest, Robert pressed his mouth to hers. A charge like lightning shot through her, and Alice wrapped her arms around him as if she might otherwise drown.

The kiss seemed to go on forever, and Alice lost all thought of anyone but her husband. When he finally lifted his head, Alice found herself almost faint.

Robert grinned like a little boy who’d just gotten away with a prank. “And that, Mrs. Barnett, is how to properly kiss your husband.”

Her senses returned and Alice smiled. “Behind the smokehouse?”

He laughed. “I hid here for many a questionable deed. I tried my first smoke here. I figured no one would know, ’cause the smokehouse was in use. My pa caught me just the same. I came here once when I stole cookies that my ma had forbidden me to eat. I don’t know why I figured she’d not notice them missin’ off the plate. She never said a word about it, however, but when I was half sick from havin’ eaten too many, she just smiled and gave me castor oil.”

“Goodness, I had no idea you were such a hooligan,” Alice said, unable to hide her amusement. “I don’t know if I would have married you had I known.”

Robert nodded most soberly and tightened his hold on her. “That’s why I didn’t tell you.” He kissed her again, but this time it was brief and left Alice longing for more.

“Come along, Mrs. Barnett. I’m sure we’ll be missed if we don’t return, and I, for one, don’t want my pa comin’ in search of me.”

Alice quickly agreed. “Neither do I, Mr. Barnett. I wouldn’t want to scandalize him.”

Robert laughed heartily and drew her alongside him. “I don’t know how I ever enjoyed life before you came here, but I have a feelin’ it’s only gonna get better. Ma once told me that Pa was a blessing from heaven, and that’s how I feel about you. God knew the kind of wife I needed, and He brought you right to my doorstep.”

Alice leaned closer and smiled. God had known her heart and her desires, too, and He had given not only her mother and brother back to her, but brought an entirely new family, as well. Most important, God had given her a man who would love her despite her scars.

“And just where have you two been?” Robert’s father asked with a raised brow.

Robert gave him a sheepish grin. “I was just showin’ Alice around—behind the smokehouse.” His father roared with laughter, and Alice felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. There would be no keeping secrets in this family, and maybe that was for the best. Secrets had a way of coming between folks, and Alice wanted nothing to ever come between her and her beloved. Smiling, she gave a sigh and prayed that this moment in time would last forever.